EWING, N.J. — The New Jersey City University baseball team entered today, Saturday, April 17, set to host a home doubleheader against The College of New Jersey, however the weather the last couple days forced NJCU to travel to the Lions for a pair of road New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games at George Ackerman Park — the squad still served as the home team and hit in the bottom halves of the innings. The Gothic Knights picked up the big 4-2 victory in game one, but fell 13-2 to TCNJ in the second matchup.

Game 1
The story of the top half of the doubleheader for NJCU (4-17, 2-8 NJAC) was pitching, as the Gothic Knight hurlers were dealing. Getting the nod on the mound in this one was sophomore righthander Justin Wiltsey (Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Hamilton West), who proceeded to toss 6.0 quality innings for his first-career victory. Wiltsey allowed just two earned runs on seven hits and notched three strikeouts. Backing him up after entering the game with the two-run, 4-2 lead was fellow sophomore righty Aaron Ayers (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan). He proceeded to toss 3.0 solid innings, allowing just three hits without a walk to the Lions (5-10, 4-6 NJAC), striking out four to record his first-career save.

Offensively, the Gothic Knights used a two-run third to take the initial 2-0 lead before jumping ahead 3-1 in the fifth and 4-2 in the sixth. Freshman Nick Chiappisi (Toms River, N.J./Manchester Township) got things going in the third with a leadoff double to left. A sac bunt from senior Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) moved him over to third before Chiappisi later scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Freshman Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) was next to reach safely after legging out an infield single to short. After advancing to second on a passed ball, Colon made it to third after Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) singled to center. With two outs and runs on the corners, junior Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) — the older of the two brothers — singled to center for the RBI, plating his younger sibling and putting NJCU up 2-0.

After the Lions scored once in the top half of the fifth, the Gothic Knights got one back in the bottom. Pena led off with a walk and then stole second. Elijah Colon (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) moved him over to third with a sac bunt. In the next at-bat, Rivera hit a RBI single up the middle to make it 3-1. In the bottom of the sixth, once again looking to answer a TCNJ run in the first part of the inning, Freshman Ali Pompey (Belle Meade, N.J./Trenton Catholic) led off with a double down the line in left and proceeded to third following a wild pitch. Rookie Caleb Ware (Newark, N.J./University) replaced him as a pinch runner and scored with one out on a RBI sac fly to center from Chiappisi to make it 4-2.

Looking to lock down the lead, head coach Jerry Smith went to the trusty Ayers, who did not disappoint. He cruised through the final three innings to preserve the victory and the save.

Game 2
The Gothic Knights fell behind early in this one and were unable to mount a comeback in the latter innings. It was a tough day at the office for junior knuckleballer Paul Tannucilli (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge), who went 3.2 innings in the start, allowing five earned (10 total). The three relievers who combined for the final 5.1 innings allowed just one earned run (three total) on seven hits with six strikeouts. Junior John Pudder (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) started it off with 1.1 one-hit scoreless innings, striking out one. His classmate Eddie Zarszynski (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) was next and tossed 2.0 innings, allowing one run with two strikeouts. Senior lefty TJ MacFarland (Lacey, N.J./Lacey) finished out the day with 2.0 innings and three Ks.

Trailing 11-0, NJCU got on the board for its two runs in the home half of the seventh. Rivera led off with a single to left, followed by a single through the gap at second from junior Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) to put runners on first and second. Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) reached on an error at third that allowed Rivera to score from second. Later on, with two outs and runners on the corners, freshman Justin Moreno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Trenton Catholic) sent a single through the left side for the RBI as Voss crossed the plate.

Highlights
- Rivera had a day with the lumber. The senior was 3-for-7 with a RBI, a walk, a run scored and stole a base.
- Leo Colon (Carteret, N.J./St. Anthony (Jersey City)) also had a strong afternoon, going 3-for-8 with a RBI.
- Sophomore Jimmy Vizzoni (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) was 2-for-7 with a double, a walk and a pair of stolen bases.

What's Next
Up next for the Gothic Knights is a scheduled home-and-home series with Ramapo College on Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23, with both games starting at 3:30 p.m. The first game is set to be in Mahwah, N.J., with Friday's game taking place at The Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City, N.J.